Why was Dr. Beela Rajesh Transferred as TN Health Secretary? - Details Here

Tamil Nadu government on Friday decided to transfer Dr. Beela Rajesh, IAS and appoint her as the Secretary of Commercial Taxes and Registration Department. Dr. J Radhakrishnan, who was recently appointed as the nodal officer for Greater Chennai Corporation, is replacing Dr. Beela Rajesh as the Health Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu. 

Dr. J Radhakrishnan’s expertise in crisis management could have been the reason behind the move. He is also serving as the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Administration, Disaster Management and Mitigation Department. He was an IAS officer of the 1992 Cadre. He is well known for tackling catastrophic disasters both natural and manmade in the state.

During the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, he was serving as the Collector of one of the worst affected Districts by the Tsunami - Nagapattinam. He was closely associated with the relief and rehabilitation work in Nagapattinam district. Earlier, he proved his mettle in handling the aftermath of 2004 Kumbakonam School fire accident which took the lives of 94 students. He was also serving as the Health Secretary during Chennai Flood. It would be fair to say that from Tsunamis and floods to fire accidents, he has seen it all. 

“Known in political circles as a trusted officer of late Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa, in 2012, Radhakrishnan was appointed Health Secretary - a post he continued to hold even after the demise of the AIADMK supremo in December 2016,” The News Minute cited in its report.

He was not only lauded by state and national leaders but his relief work was widely acclaimed internationally as well. Former US President Bill Clinton lauded administrative skills for Tsunami relief work in 2005. He has also led the Disaster Management team of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Dr. Beela Rajesh on the other hand has been in the limelight ever since the Corona virus outbreak in TN. Her administrative journey is different since she has been predominantly involved in the field of medicine over the years. 

She completed her MBBS from Madras Medical College (MMC). According to The News Minute’s report, “She has held the posts of Sub-Collector of Chengalpattu; Commissioner of Fisheries; and Commissioner for Town and Country Planning.”

Before becoming the Principal Secretary of Health, she was posted as the Commissioner for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy.

Measures like these are being taken by the government to curb the spread of the virus and work towards recovery.